Mt. Hōō (鳳凰山)

Mt. Hōō (鳳凰山, “Hōō Sanzan” / the Three Hōō Peaks) is a trio of peaks straddling Minami-Alps, Hokuto, and Nirasaki cities in Yamanashi Prefecture: Jizō-ga-take (2,764 m), the highest peak Kannon-dake (2,840 m), and Yakushi-dake (2,780 m), counted among the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan.

The ridge of white granite and giant boulders, the panoramic view from Kannon-dake of Mt. Kita-dake, Mt. Kaikomagatake, and Mt. Fuji, and Jizō-ga-take’s symbol — the towering “Obelisk” (Dainichi Nyorai stone pillar) — are highlights. Along the Dondoko-sawa stream lie four famous waterfalls: Goshiki-no-taki, Shiraito-no-taki, Hōō-no-taki, and Nansyōji-no-taki.

There are three trailheads: Yashajin-tōge (Yamanashi Kōtsū bus, accessible during the regulated season); Aoki-kōsen and Gozaishi-onsen (Kayagatake Tourist Bus, summer weekends/holidays only, fully reservation-based). A ridge traverse or a loop course is possible.

*Timetable last checked: May 20, 2026

How to access the trailheads

1. [Outbound] Kofu Station → Ashiyasu Parking → Yashajin-tōge → Hirogawara (Yamanashi Kōtsū)
2. [Outbound] Nirasaki Station → Aoki-kōsen → Gozaishi-onsen (Kayagatake Tourist Bus, summer weekends/holidays, fully reservation-based)
3. [Return] Hirogawara / Yashajin-tōge → Ashiyasu Parking → Kofu Station (Yamanashi Kōtsū)
4. [Return] Gozaishi-onsen / Aoki-kōsen → Nirasaki Station (Kayagatake Tourist Bus)

Reference course time (Dondoko-sawa – Hōō-sanzan ridge – Naka-michi loop, recommended 2-day overnight, ~12 h, 14.6 km)

[Day 1] Aoki-kōsen (1,090 m) → (5:00) → Hōō Hut (2,380 m) → (1:30) → Jizō-ga-take Obelisk (2,764 m) ※stay at Hōō Hut
[Day 2] Hōō Hut → (0:30) → Jizō-ga-take → (1:30) → Kannon-dake (2,840 m) → (0:30) → Yakushi-dake (2,780 m) → (2:30) → Gozaishi (Naka-michi) → (2:30) → Aoki-kōsen

Reference course time (Yashajin-tōge – Yakushi-dake – Kannon-dake, 2-day overnight, ~11 h, 18 km round)

[Day 1] Yashajin-tōge Trailhead (1,380 m) → (1:00) → Yashajin-tōge → (2:00) → Tsuetate-tōge → (2:00) → Ichigo-daira → (0:30) → Minami-Omuro Hut (2,430 m) ※stay overnight
[Day 2] Minami-Omuro Hut → (1:30) → Yakushi-dake Hut (2,720 m) → (0:30) → Yakushi-dake → (0:30) → Kannon-dake → (3:30) → Yashajin-tōge Trailhead

Reference course time (Jizō-ga-take out-and-back, ~10 h 45 min, 10.5 km, strenuous day trip)

Aoki-kōsen → (5:00) → Hōō Hut → (1:00) → Jizō-ga-take → (1:00) → Hōō Hut → (3:30) → Aoki-kōsen

1. [Outbound] Kofu Station → Ashiyasu Parking → Yashajin-tōge → Hirogawara (Yamanashi Kōtsū)

From JR Chūō Main Line Kofu Station, Yamanashi Kōtsū’s Minami-Alps mountain bus connects Yashajin-tōge Trailhead and Hirogawara (Kita-dake trailhead). Take the Ltd. Express Azusa from Shinjuku to Kofu, then the mountain bus — about 1 h 25 min to Yashajin-tōge, about 2 h to Hirogawara.

Operating period: Approx. 27 Jun – 3 Nov (linked to the private-vehicle regulation, 2025 actual)
Travel time: Kofu Station → Yashajin-tōge about 1 h 25 min; Kofu Station → Hirogawara about 2 h
Fare: Kofu → Yashajin-tōge ¥1,760; Kofu → Hirogawara ¥2,400; Ashiyasu → Hirogawara ¥1,450
Cooperation fee: User cooperation fee ¥300 / one way (Yashajin Gate – Hirogawara, junior-high age and up, cash only)
Frequency: 7 trips/day (3 trips run daily 19 Jul – 24 Aug + weekends/holidays 25 Aug – 3 Nov)

Kofu Station → Ashiyasu Parking → Yashajin-tōge → Hirogawara (Yamanashi Kōtsū)

Note: Get off at Yashajin-tōge Trailhead for the Hōō ridge traverse (Yakushi-dake / Kannon-dake / Jizō-ga-take). Riding through to Hirogawara reaches the Kita-dake / Ainoyama trailhead, but does not give access to Jizō-ga-take.

References: Yamanashi Kōtsū Hirogawara Line | Minami-Alps NET Bus Schedule
Contact: Yamanashi Kōtsū Route-Bus Division ☎055-223-0821

2. [Outbound] Nirasaki Station → Aoki-kōsen → Gozaishi-onsen (Kayagatake Tourist Bus, summer weekends/holidays, fully reservation-based)

From JR Chūō Main Line Nirasaki Station, the Minami-Alps Hōō-sanzan Mountain Bus operated by Kayagatake Tourist Bus connects Aoki-kōsen (Dondoko-sawa trailhead) and Gozaishi-onsen (Gozaishi route trailhead). Fully reservation-based (open from 30 days before until 17:00, 2 days before the trip), operates only on weekends, holidays, and 3-day weekends, capacity 18, fare ¥2,500 one way (tax included, advance card payment only).

Operating period: Approx. late June – mid-October (2025 actual: 21 Jun – 13 Oct)
Travel time: Nirasaki Station → Aoki-kōsen about 50 min; Aoki-kōsen → Gozaishi-onsen about 15 min
Fare: ¥2,500 (one way, tax included, card prepayment only)
Days: Sat / Sun / public holidays only (no weekday service)
Frequency: 2 trips/day

Nirasaki Station → Aoki-kōsen → Gozaishi-onsen (Kayagatake Tourist Bus, reservation-based)

Note: No same-day boarding even if seats are open. Get off at Aoki-kōsen for the Dondoko-sawa / Jizō-ga-take loop (with Hōō Hut overnight); get off at Gozaishi-onsen for the Gozaishi direct route to Jizō-ga-take.

References: Kayagatake Tourist Bus official | Hōō Hut Access
Contact: Kayagatake Tourist Bus ☎0551-25-6262

3. [Return] Hirogawara / Yashajin-tōge → Ashiyasu Parking → Kofu Station (Yamanashi Kōtsū)

Descend via the same Yamanashi Kōtsū mountain bus. Board at Yashajin-tōge Trailhead or Hirogawara. The last bus from Hirogawara is at 14:00 (extended to 16:40 daily 19 Jul – 24 Aug + weekends/holidays); time your descent from the Yakushi-dake / Kannon-dake ridge accordingly.

Operating period: Approx. 27 Jun – 3 Nov (2025 actual)
Travel time: Hirogawara → Kofu Station about 1 h 55 min; Yashajin-tōge → Kofu Station about 1 h 15 min
Fare: Hirogawara → Kofu ¥2,400; Yashajin-tōge → Kofu ¥1,760
Frequency: 5 trips/day

Hirogawara → Yashajin-tōge → Ashiyasu Parking → Kofu Station (Yamanashi Kōtsū)

References: Yamanashi Kōtsū Hirogawara Line
Contact: Yamanashi Kōtsū Route-Bus Division ☎055-223-0821

4. [Return] Gozaishi-onsen / Aoki-kōsen → Nirasaki Station (Kayagatake Tourist Bus)

If you descend via Dondoko-sawa, board at Aoki-kōsen; if via the Gozaishi route, board at Gozaishi-onsen. The return trip is also reservation-based (30 days – 17:00, 2 days before), 2 trips/day. Always book both outbound and return together.

Operating period: Approx. late June – mid-October (2025 actual: 21 Jun – 13 Oct)
Travel time: Gozaishi-onsen → Nirasaki Station about 1 h 5 min; Aoki-kōsen → Nirasaki Station about 50 min
Fare: ¥2,500 (one way, tax included, card prepayment only)
Days: Sat / Sun / public holidays only
Frequency: 2 trips/day

Gozaishi-onsen → Aoki-kōsen → Nirasaki Station (Kayagatake Tourist Bus, reservation-based)

References: Kayagatake Tourist Bus official
Contact: Kayagatake Tourist Bus ☎0551-25-6262

Trail overview, mountain huts, and regulations

Dondoko-sawa – Hōō-sanzan ridge – Naka-michi loop (intermediate – advanced, 2-day overnight, ~12 h, 14.6 km, cumulative elevation gain ~2,100 m)
From Aoki-kōsen (1,090 m), pass the Minamishōji, Hōō, Shiraito, and Goshiki Falls to reach Hōō Hut (2,380 m). After overnighting, traverse from the Obelisk of Jizō-ga-take across the white-sand ridge of Kannon-dake and Yakushi-dake, then descend via the Naka-michi route to Aoki-kōsen. The 1,700 m climb up Dondoko-sawa in 5 hours is the physical crux; the Naka-michi descent is gentle by comparison.

Yashajin-tōge – Yakushi-dake – Kannon-dake out-and-back (intermediate, 2-day overnight, ~11 h, 18 km round)
From Yashajin-tōge Trailhead (1,380 m), follow the gentle forested ridge through Yashajin-tōge (1,770 m, view of the Shirane Sanzan), Tsuetate-tōge, and Ichigo-daira to Minami-Omuro Hut (2,430 m). On day 2, continue via Yakushi-dake Hut to Yakushi-dake and Kannon-dake (out and back), or traverse to Jizō-ga-take and descend via Hōō Hut. The only water source is the spring at Minami-Omuro Hut (abundant natural water, free).

Jizō-ga-take out-and-back (intermediate, strenuous day trip, ~10 h 45 min, 10.5 km)
From Aoki-kōsen, climb Dondoko-sawa and make an out-and-back to Jizō-ga-take from Hōō Hut. Day-tripable but strenuous (6 h up, 4 h 30 min down). Early start essential.

Mountain huts (2026 season, reservations required)

• Hōō Hut (just below Jizō-ga-take, 2,380 m): ☎0551-27-2466 (8:00–13:00 / 15:00–19:00). Open late April – early November. Apr–Aug reservations open 1 April; Sep–Nov reservations open 1 June. Tent site and water available. Official site.
• Minami-Omuro Hut (Yashajin ridge, 2,430 m): year-round staffing; indoor stay by official LINE reservation; tent site is first-come (no reservation). Winter season 27 Dec – 3 Jan (direct ☎090-3406-3404). Water available (natural spring). Official site.
• Yakushi-dake Hut (just below Yakushi-dake, 2,720 m): by official LINE reservation; until mid-July, Fridays and Saturdays only, then daily. Winter 29 Dec – 3 Jan (direct ☎090-5561-1242). Official site.

Vehicle regulations and trail closures (2026 season)

• Private-vehicle regulation: Yashajin Gate – Hirogawara, approx. late June – early November. Park at Ashiyasu Parking and switch to bus or shared taxi. User cooperation fee ¥300 / one way (junior-high age and up).
• Dondoko-sawa route: Closed long-term after the 2018 typhoons; reopened August 2020. Recheck after typhoons.
• Gozaishi route: Confirm the 2026 season status with the Nirasaki City office or the Hōō Hut official site.
• Always confirm the latest restrictions on the Minami-Alps NET road & traffic page before entering the trail.

Emergency contacts

• Hōō Hut Liaison (trail info / emergencies): ☎0551-27-2466
• Minami-Alps Ashiyasu Mountaineering Center (trail info): ☎055-288-2125
• Nirasaki Police Station (mountain rescue): ☎0551-22-0110
• Minami-Alps Police Station (mountain rescue): ☎055-282-0110
• Yamanashi Taxi Association (shared taxi): ☎055-262-1212

Recommended plans

• 2-day Dondoko-sawa – Hōō-sanzan ridge (classic): Nirasaki Station 7:10 → Aoki-kōsen 8:00 (Kayagatake Tourist Bus, reservation required) → Dondoko-sawa 5 h → overnight at Hōō Hut → next day Jizō-ga-take – Kannon-dake – Yakushi-dake – Naka-michi → Aoki-kōsen → Nirasaki Stn 15:30 / 16:35.
• 2-day Yashajin-tōge – Yakushi-dake / Kannon-dake (beginner-intermediate): Kofu Station 9:05 → Yashajin-tōge Trailhead 10:17 → overnight at Minami-Omuro Hut → next day Yakushi-dake / Kannon-dake out-and-back → Yashajin-tōge Trailhead → Kofu Station 14:00 / 15:55.

References: Hōō Hut Trail Guide | Minami-Alps National Park (MoE) | Minami-Alps Ashiyasu Mountaineering Center

Photo by Alpsdake